Michigan basketball fans shouldn't be overly concerned about the possibility of Dusty May leaving the Wolverines to coach the North Carolina Tar Heels.
May, who won Big Ten Coach of the Year, has led the Wolverines to a 33-3 record, as well as their second Sweet 16 appearance with him as the head coach. Even though May said earlier this week he was "happy" in Ann Arbor, showing no interest in leaving, his name has been mentioned as someone that North Carolina would target.
The Tar Heels tried for Brad Stevens, too. So they know they are swinging for the fences with some candidates. Dusty May certainly qualifies as a swing for the fence.
But North Carolina basketball is North Carolina basketball. The Dean Dome. Being the top program, because as good as basketball has been for U-M, football is still the top dog. It always will be in Ann Arbor, while Chapel Hill will always be about hoops.
Michigan basketball has to do whatever it takes to keep Dusty May
That being said, Michigan has given May all the resources he could need to win. Some of them, he's gotten himself through fundraising. He's a tireless worker and regardless of other programs having interest, maybe even NBA teams, he deserves a contract extension.
Michigan AD Warde Manuel seems to agree.
Michigan AD Warde Manuel tells me the following regarding Dusty May's future with the Wolverines:
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 25, 2026
"I want Dusty to be the coach at Michigan for a long time and continue to achieve great success. I will actively work with him towards making all that happen."
“I want Dusty to be the coach at Michigan for a long time and continue to achieve great success,” Manuel told CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein. “I will actively work with him towards making all that happen.”
After a Big Ten regular-season title, a Big Ten tournament title, two trips to the Sweet 16, and hopefully more, May deserves to be one of the best paid coaches in the sport. If Michigan doens't make that happen, someone else will.